The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Captain Louis Leon Le Nay, 11th Battalion, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on Captain Louis Leon Le Nay, 11th Battalion, First World War.

Captain Louis Leon Le Nay, 11th Battalion
KIA 10 August 1918
Photograph: E01778

Story delivered 15 July 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Captain Louis Le Nay.

Louis Leon Le Nay was born in Bowral, New South Wales, on 21 December 1891. His parents, Louis and Esther Le Nay, were French migrants who became pioneers of the Meckering district in Western Australia. His father had served in the French Army in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War. Louis grew up and attended the local state school in Meckering. He was a member of the Cuballing Literary and Debating Society, and served in the local citizens forces. He went on to become a machinery expert and farrier in and around Cottesloe in Western Australia.

Louis Le Nay enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in January 1915. Six months later he applied for and was granted a commission. He left Australia as a second lieutenant with the 11th Battalion on 13 September 1915 on board the troopship Themistocles. He first went to Egypt, where he spent time qualifying as a machine-gun instructor before going on to France. In April 1916 he wrote to the catholic archbishop in Perth saying that he was “in the best of form and anxious for something to be doing”.

On 23 July 1916 the 11th Battalion was part of a force that attacked and captured the French village of Pozières. During the operation, Le Nay, who was the battalion’s Lewis gun officer, went forward with Captain Walter Belford to establish a strong post in front of the newly-captured front line, enabling Australian reinforcements to get forward. He was later recommended for a military cross for “rendering valuable assistance in reorganising and placing detached parties and machine guns in position” during the operation, although he was not awarded the medal.

On 21 August, when the 11th Battalion was again in the front line around Pozières, Le Nay, who had been promoted to captain, was struck
in the forearm by a piece of artillery shell. His arm was broken, and he was taken to hospital in London, where he spent a long time recovering from a septic wound. While there he met and married Kathleen. In March 1917 he was operated on for appendicitis.

Although Le Nay returned to the front line for a short period, he was gassed, and was evacuated for treatment for gas poisoning, as well as ongoing problems relating to his arm and abdomen. During his short stay in the front line he once again distinguished himself, and was mentioned in despatches. Le Nay continued on light duties until mid-1918, when he was classified fit for general service and was again mentioned in despatches.

In early August the 11th Battalion participated in the Battle of Amiens. On 10 August, Captain Le Nay was wounded, but continued without seeking medical assistance. Shortly afterwards he was killed by machine-gun fire. His body was taken from the battlefield and buried in nearby Harbonnieres .

On 15 August 1918, five days after his father’s death, Le Nay’s only son, Desmond, was born.

In November 1918 Kathleen Le Nay brought Desmond to live in Western Australia. Although the inscription was deemed too long, she wanted Louis’s headstone to read:
In proud and loving memory of my husband and the father of Desmond born 15 August 1918. Faith spans the gulf of death with the bridge of hope.

Louis Le Nay was 27 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Captain Louis Leon Le Nay, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Unit